Washington D.C. – House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith made the following statement following the President’s authorization of Special Operations Forces in Syria:

October30, 2015

The situation in Syria and Iraq is extremely complicated, but our goals are clear—combatting ISIL and a negotiated political settlement that brings the civil war in Syria to an end and closes the door on the Assad regime. No American would prefer to have any troops in Syria, but the small number the President is deploying should help to achieve those goals, and for that reason in this incredibly complex solution, I support this decision